Tire and wheel lock



y 4- F. c. BURRELL 2,347,767

IRE AND WHEEL LOCK l/Vl/[IVTOR FRANK C. BURREL L T Filed Jan. 28, 1942 by Ail v,

Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to anti-theft devices and has reference more particularly to automobile tire and wheel locks.

An object of the invention is to produce a tire and wheel lock adapted to use with disc wheels having drop center rims and inner tubes with rubber valve stems; also to improve autotheft devices in other respects hereinafter specilied and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through an automobile wheel with my improved tire and wheel lock in position,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the wheel and tire lock with parts broken away to disclose the construction.

Fig. 3 is a section-elevation through a locking element.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the locking element.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are a plan view, side elevation and central sectional elevation respectively of the rubber valve locking collar, and Fig. 3 is a modified form of locking device.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, an automobile wheel consists of a disc Ill, a brake drum H, a drop center rim l2, a hub 13 and a dust cover M as commonly used in a majority of makes of automobiles. A tire casing 15 and an inner tube It are mounted on the rim 12. A rubber valve stem ll extends outwardly at an angle from the inner tube 16 through an opening it in the side of the rim l2. The usual valve cap I9 is screwed onto the outer metal end of stem l1. Bolts lea attach the wheel Hi to an annular flange 20 on the hub l 3.

In order to prevent the theft of a Wheel, a special nut 2! is screwed onto one of the bolts '93., said nut 2| having an annular groove A lock housing 23 extends over the nut 23 and is provided at one end with a tumbler cylinder 24 having a key opening 25. locking bolt 25 extends from the cylinder 24 into the groove 22. A locking collar 2? extends loosely around the valve stem H and an outstanding flange 25 on one end of collar 21 extends between the inner tube 55 and the rim l2. Multiple threads 29 are formed around the outside of the end of collar 2?. A cylindrical locking cap 35 has internal threads 3! which screw onto the threads 29 so that cap 3 may be easily screwed in place over the valve cap it) to prevent deflation and theft of the tire. A dust washer 3i) is interposed between cap 33 and flange 28. A flexible steel spring 3W curves dust cover M. The lower end of spring .H is provided with a bolt hole 33 to receive the bolt l9 between the locking housing 23 and the wheel disc Iii. The spring arm 3W thus prevents theunscrewing of the locking cap until looking housing 23 is first removed. As the lock housing 23 is positioned within the dust cover i l, no dust will get in the key slot 25 to interfere with the operatio of the lock. Clips 34 on disc Hl removably secure the cover It in place. Suitable counter-balancing means (not shown) will of course be provided on the wheel Ill opposite the device hereinabove described so that the wheel will run in balance. In unlocking the device, the side of the dust cover It opposite the slot 32 is swung out of the way to permit the insertion of a key in key opening 25. The arm Sl however prevents the theft of the cover M until the locking housing 23 is removed.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, a locking nut 35 is provided with an outstanding flange 36 and an opening 31 is provided in the flange 3%. A spring arm 38 is formed with an outstanding flange 39 and an opening 40 in the flange 39 registers with the opening 3?. A locking bar 4| on a padlock 42 passes through the openings 3'! and it! to prevent the removal of nut 35 until the padlock is unlocked.

I would state in conclusion that while the example illustrated constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself precisely to these details, since manifestly the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a tire and wheel look, a removable dust cover arranged to fit over the hollow hub of a wheel, said wheel having a tire, rim and outstanding valve stem extending from said tire through said rim, said dust cover being arranged to con- 7 ceal nuts for securing said Wheel to a support downwardly from cap 39 through a slot 32 in the member, one of said nuts being provided with a key operated look, a collar having external multiple threads, a valve locking cap removably engaging the multiple threads on said collar, said collar surrounding said valve stem and having outstanding flange extending between said tire and said rim, said dust cover having an opening, a flexible locking arm extending through the opening in said dust cover, said arm being rigidly secured to said locking nut and said locking cap so as to prevent the deflation of said tire and the removal of said dust cover and looking nut until said key lock is operated.

FRANK C. BURBELL. 

